Fox aims for record Super Bowl viewers

The undefeated New England Patriots aren't taking the only shot at history this weekend. There's a strong chance that this could be the most-watched Super Bowl ever.

The record Fox will be shooting for is the 94.08 million viewers who watched the Dallas Cowboys beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in January 1996, according to Nielsen Media Research. Last year's victory by the Indianapolis Colts came closest with 93.2 million.

While the Patriots' quest to become the first undefeated NFL team since the 1972 Dolphins will be the focus, the New York Giants underdog run to the Super Bowl has captivated its fan base. Their NFC championship victory over the Green Bay Packers had the biggest audience for that game since 1995, according to Nielsen Media Research.

There's also the fresh memory of the thrilling game the Giants and Patriots played on the last night of the regular season, where New England had to come from behind to keep their unbeaten streak alive. That game was seen by 34.5 million people, the most-watched NFL regular season game since 1990.

Fox says that setting a record is possible. ''There are a lot of factors that go into a huge number like this,'' said Bill Wanger, research chief for Fox sports. ''Having the number one market isn't necessarily a lock.''

Even if this week's game cracks the viewership record, it is still not likely to earn the best Super Bowl rating -- because of factors out of the game's control. The ratings record of 49.1, meaning just under half of the nation's TV sets were tuned in to the game, was set for the 1982 game between San Francisco and Cincinnati. The simple explosion in the number of TV networks available for people to watch makes that a hard number to approach.

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